Tooth-cleaning apparatus



w. SPIEGEL ET AL TOOTH CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1927 i n sfliiiis Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES WALTER SPIEGEL, on

P TE T orrics Toorn-oLnANINe APPARATUS Application filed May 11, 1927. Serial No. 190,486. I

This invention relates to devices for cleaning the spaces between the teeth of aperson and it has particular reference to that class of device where such cleaning is effected by the well-known dental fioss' or thread.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device in combination with such dental floss, wherein and whereon the dental floss may be arranged in free and taut branches and also in which such branches may have directions transverse to one another so that such free branches of the dental floss can be applied between the teeth various positions.

' Another important object of this invention is to provide a device as characterized hereinbefore which can be folded in a compactform when not in use and which has means thereon to automaticallysecure it both in its open, operative position andin its folded, inoperative position. I. a I

Other objects of this invention will be apparent as the specification of the same proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a partly'sectional perspective of one embodiment ofour invention, while Fig. 2 is a detail view showing on a reduced scale on a straight piece of material, certain features of the device of Fig. l.

- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of our invention;

' Figs. t and 5; 6 and 7; and 8 and 9; are de tailed views of three other embodiments, respectively.

Referring now to the drawing by characters of reference, in Fig. 1 we show a container l for dental floss which preferably takes the form of a'glass tube, having an open and threaded top portion to receive a metallic cap 3. *The spool 2 ofdental floss is placed within; the container 1 and the free end of it will'be passed through a hole 4 in the ca 3 3. I

Secured to the top of the cap 3 is an upstanding member or rod 5, the upper end of which'carries a preferably transverse frame A 6, closed at three sides and open at thefourth one. The frame 6, instead of the transverse position shown in the drawings, may also take the arrangement indicated by the dotted lines in the top of the figure in which case it will be in the same vertical plan'ewith the upstanding member 5. f

The upstanding member 5 has, a'slotor notch 7 on the one side of thesanie and a somewhat similar device is arranged on the frame 6 as the notch 8, while the'further end of the frame shows a hole 9 .therethrough. The thread or floss after being passed through the hole 4 will be led into and through the notches 7 and 8 andthe hole 9 in the directions and branches indicated and shown by the arrows inthe respective dot and dash lines. After passing through hole 9 the dental floss will bereturned in a downward direction and finally engaged in slot 10 in the bottom edge of screw cap 3, as willbeunderstood. I I I In this manner thedental floss may be led in the lines and in the shape shown by the dash and dotted lines and its braches 'kept taut by the friction of the respectivenotches. When it is desired to clean the spaces between the teeth of a person through the use of our device, the container wiil be held in the hand of the user and either the horizontalorwthe substantially vertical taut and free branches of the dental floss will be applied between the teeth and caused to describe a backwardand forward saw-like motion therein to clean the spaces of anyremaindersorparticles of food or other foreign substances. The material or the cap 3 at one of the slots 10 may be shaped into a cutting edge and after the thread has been used for cleaningz'the be relieved from'the respective slots and holes and after a clean length is passed throughthe hole 4 from the spool 2 to take the place ofthe soiled one, such latter portion of the dental 9o teeth, the exposed portion of the same may floss may then be cut off at the slot 10 mentioned hereinbefore.

In Fig. 2 we show on a straight piece of material 5 a preferred arrangement and shape of the slots 7 and 8 and the hole 9.

In Fig. 3 we show a somewhat modified embodiment of our invention which embodiment we consider the principal one and which to our expectations will be most eflicient and favored in practical use. In this embodiment av spiral or helical spring issecu-red in a transverse/manner. atv the top of the cap '3, as by soldering, one free end of the same being continued inan upward direction forming an upstanding member 12 which is then continued in a transverse open frame 18 similarto the one described hereinbefore in connection with Fig. 1. Loops 13, h and 15 are arranged at appropriate points of the upstanding member and of the transverse frame, being preferably formed by their own mate-rizal and the dental floss 2 after passing through the hole in the cap 3 will be led through the: loops 18, 14 and 15 and then re turned in a downward direction to a slot 10 at the bottom of the cap. 3 as: indicated by the dot anddash lines and the respective arrows.

The use and application of this device will be entirely similar to those described in connectiorrwith the device shown in Fig. 1, with the difference, however, that when the device is out of use the. upstanding member 12 may be drawn in a. downward direction in the position shown--v by dotted lines along-side the right hand end of the container 1 and cap 3 and then the transverse frame 16 hooked in underneath. the bottom of the container 1 as also indicated by the respective dotted lines. The operation of folding the upstanding member and the frame into a compact position just described will be permitted by the resiliency of the spring 11 and this same resiliency will secure them in their folded positions through the friction arising between the frame and the bottom of the container, though any of the usual and appropriate hook devices may be attached to the. bottom of the container 1 to further secure the frame 16 and brought into its compact folded position underneath said bottom.-

When the frame 16 is released from underneath the bottom of the container by simply pulling thereon, to loosen it therefrom, and isthereafter drawn in an upward direction it will automatically spring back into its operative position, together with the upstanding member 12, as shown in Fig. 3.

The modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 includes a horizontal pin 17 crossing the cap and having the arrangement shown. The

left hand end of the pin 17 carries the upstanding rod or member 5 which may have a similarly shaped arrangement and carries similar parts to those shown in Fig. 1. Two guides21 are arranged on the outside of the cap 3 to co-operate with the member 5 and to secure it in its upward or downward position when permitted to drop between said two guides. A spiral spring 20 is arranged between the wall of the cap and a disk 19 on pin 17 and normally has tendency to pull member 5 between the guides 21. The right hand end of the pin 17 carries a button 18 and when a pressure is exerted on the button 18 the pin 17 and member 5 will be moved in a left. hand direction against the action of spring 20 when the member ,5 will be, freed from between the guides 21 and may be turned in a downward inoperative position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thereupon the pin 17 is released and the member 5 will be returned between the guides 21 through the action of spring 20. It is obvious that in thismodification a simple and secure mechanical method is provided to change the position of the member 5- from that. of the. operative oneinto a folded and compact inoperative; position and. fasten it, il either of them.

To better secure a tight connection between the guides: 21 and member 5-, the co-operative parts of them may have the inclined engagement surfaces shown.

In the modification of our invention shown in the plan view of Fig. 6 and. in thevertical section. of Fig. 7 respectively, a cover 24 is hinged on the container 1 in a, manner to be described presently and it carries an. upstanding member'fi which again has a similar construction to the one shown in Fig. 1. The cover 24. is secured to one side of a preferably rectangular piece of material 23 which, is rotatable on pin 22 secured across the lugs 27 of the container 1. YVhen it, is desired to use our device the top 24 with its upstanding member 5 will be opened in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 7, while, if it is desired to fold our device into a compact form out of operation, the square. piece 23 will be given two 90 turns. so. that its lower side will take the position of the top-most one and will carry a cover 24 and the member 5 into their position indicated by the. dotted lines. The square piece 23 maybe yieldably held. in either of these positions by a. flat spring 26 as shown.

Still another modification of, our invention is indicated by the fractional vertical section of Fig. 8 and the corresponding side, elevation of Fig. 9. The cap 3 of the container 1 in this modification carries two outside lugs substantially through the center of which crosses a pin 22 on which is rotatably arranged a square piece. 23 in form and use similar to the one described in connection with the previous embodiment- Upstanding member 5 is in thiscase carried on an arm inte ral with the piece 23. When it is desired to place our device into compact inoperative position, the square piece 23 will again be given two 90 turns until the member will take the downward position indicated by the dotted lines in the right hand side of Fig. 8.

a The various positions of the square piece may be yieldingly secured by a flat spring 29 fastened on pin 28 also secured across the two upstanding lugs but at the lower end and near to one side of the same.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction of the parts within the limits of the claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

IVhat we claim as new, is

1. In a dental floss holding and operating device, a container for the floss; an upstanding member on the top of the container having an open frame at its free end, and means to carry the floss upwardly along the member, across said frame and downwardly back to the container to give it free and taut operating branches and to secure it in such a position.

2. In a dental floss holding and operating device as set forth in claim 1, said means to carry and secure the floss or thread including appropriate holes and incisions on the container, in the upstanding member, and in said frame, respectively.

3. In a dental floss holding and operating device as set forth in claim 1, said frame being transverse to the plane of said upstanding member.

4;. In a dental floss holding and operating device as set forth in claim 1, means to turn said upstanding member downwardly into substantial parallelism with said container, and to releasably secure the same in its upstanding operative, or in its downwardly turned inoperative positions.

5. In a dental floss holding and operating device as set forth in claim 1, means to turn said upstanding member downwardly into substantial parallelism with said container, and to releasably secure the same in its upstanding operative, or in its downwardly turned inoperative positions, said means to turn said member into its two positions and secure it therein including a helical spring secured to the top of the container, one end of which carries said upstanding member.

6. In a dental floss holding and operating device in combination, a container for the dental floss; a helical spring secured to the top of said container in a transverse direction, one end of said spring being formed into an upstanding member with a transverse frame at its top end, said upstanding member, said frame and the top of the container being provided with appropriate loops, holes and incisions adapted to pass the dental floss through the same and to give it longitudinal and transverse easily accessible free branches and to hold it taut in such position, said upstanding member being adapted to be turned downward into substantial parallelism with the container, said frame then engaging the bottom of said container to hold the device in a folded and compact position when not in use. I

Signed at New York city, in the county of Queens and State of New York, this 10th day 

